BBC: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22751415

Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes

4 June 2013

For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

It's a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it's designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.
The maternity package - a gift from the government - is available to all expectant mothers.

It contains bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as nappies, bedding and a small mattress.
With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes a baby's first bed. Many children, from all social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls.

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[sinkingfeeling]

1. Every baby gets one, no matter the family's income. my tour guide showed us a video of what was included.

[SARose]

2. I know a bunch of young Mothers-to-Be

Who would take the box over the $1,000 any day!

What a wonderful thing!

[wendyb-NC]

3. That's very holistic

Some tangible benefits, too. A correlation to lower infant mortality rate. Equality of all, from the start. Economical furniture.

[3catwoman3]

4. I first heard about this any years ago, and it is a brilliant, caring...

...and family friendly idea that the US would do well to copy. Fancy nurseries are for the parents. Babies could care less where they sleep in those early weeks.

[lostnfound]

6. We don't copy no stinking ideas from other countries! What are you suggesting??

It takes a lot of heads in the sand to get this far as a fallen empire.

[tblue37]

10. The US never would, for two main reasons: (1) nonwhite babies would also benefit, and the US would never tolerate that,

(2) although babies and children are sentimentalized in the US, they are, as a matter of policy not valued, since they don't bring in money, so in general legislators are not eager to spend money to make their lives better.

[CrispyQ]

5. Bet they don't get a $10,000 bill from the hospital, either.

from google:

AI Overview
The average cost of having a baby in the U.S. is around $18,865, but this can vary widely. With insurance, the out-of-pocket cost is typically around $2,854, but this can also fluctuate significantly. Factors like the type of delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean), location, and insurance coverage all play a role in the final bill.

AI Overview
Finland's healthcare system is a publicly funded, universal healthcare system that provides access to services for all residents. The system is primarily organized and delivered by municipalities, with the national government providing funding and setting broad policy. It's a tiered system, with primary care at health centers and specialized care at hospitals. While the system is highly regarded, it does face challenges like waiting times for specialized care and staffing shortages in some areas.

[dalton99a]

7. +1

[Incanus]

8. But that's socialism!

Actually it's the Nordic model which isn't big s Socialism but we don't want to get in the way of right wing hysteria about commies taking over whenever we mention socialized healthcare. Zeus forbid we should help new parents and make sure their babies get adequate care before and after they're born.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread IrishBubbaLiberal

[Emrys]

11. Wales and Scotland have also introduced these, following the Finnish model

Details of Scotland's scheme here: https://www.mygov.scot/baby-box

Unboxing video:

There's no such scheme in England, but some charities have sought to fill the gap in provision in certain regions: https://smileymovement.org/news/the-baby-boxes-helping-new-parents-and-babies-to-thrive

The bare financial value of the items Scotland's contains comes in at around $580, but the information included with it also promotes engagement with various sources of help in early years rearing. It's also a nice way to welcome a new member of society, rather than treating them as an unwelcome potential burden from the start of their life.